| Author | Message | ||
| Ron Vallejo (Ron328)
Junior Member Username: Ron328 Post Number: 180 Registered: 3-2003 |
I wouldn't call this one a bad experience but I just thought it was kind of funny... I brought my '03 Sentra to a Nissan dealer for oil change 2 months ago. While waiting, I went to their showroom to check the 350Z out. A salesman approached me, we talked about the car, and I told him my interest in test-driving the car. In short I was politely told "let us know when you're ready to buy, these cars are expensive we can't afford to have everyone test-drive it all the time" which to me was understandable. We continued our conversation and at some point he asked me what other cars I have so I casually told him I have a Ferrari. Then he told me..."just wait here; give me a few minutes." Guess what? When he came back, there was a 350z ready for me to test-drive! (Get the point? Some sales people are just amazing!) | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 267 Registered: 2-2003 |
Best experience....Ferrari of Beverly Hills...very nice, cordial, and sincere. Worst Experience....MidWestern Auto Group(Authorized Ferrari Dealer)......No matter what you buy, what you wear, what you drive, inconsiderate, rude, arrogant and condescending. HORRIBLE!! | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Member Username: Markg Post Number: 515 Registered: 2-2001 |
Back in the late 70's and 80's I spent a lot of timr at Ferrari of Los Gatos and NEVER got an attitude but did get a lot of good car talk with the then owners/sales folks. Same went for Porsche dealers out there (i did have a 911...). Ferrari of Denver same expierence, even before I started showing up in a 308. Great staff, parts folks and sales team (the English guy alone is worth the trip!). | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member Username: Scott Post Number: 165 Registered: 6-2001 |
One story I just recalled. A 355 was advertised in the paper--turns out it was owned by the owner of a local Lincoln-Mecu5{ed, asked about it, and set up an appointment to check it out. This time I should up in my freshly waxed M3, and was dressd for a dinner party later in the evening. Though a lot transpired, two comments stood out. One, my test drive would be when I was driving off the lot after I bought it. Two, I could sit in it when I brought them a bank statement. Unbelievable. | ||
| Mark Moon (Enzomoon)
Junior Member Username: Enzomoon Post Number: 114 Registered: 4-2002 |
Augustine: I agree wholeheartedly with your appraisal of Shelton and Bud Root in particular. I have known Bud for 7 years now but only in the last 2 years have I actually purchased from him. He has become a true friend and I trust him completely. If anyone on this site wants to experience truly professional treatment call Shelton and ask for Bud. | ||
| Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
New member Username: Azzuro328 Post Number: 41 Registered: 4-2003 |
I can certainly agree with Jeffrey. I have always spent a lot of time in South Florida every year and the guys at Shelton Ferrari are great. In particular, one of their sales reps, Bud Root, is an absolute class act. While I was in college in Miami, I would pay him a visit about once every few months. I couldn't even begin to think about buying one at the time, but Bud always treated me with respect. He would always be happy to give me a tour of the racing shop and restoration dept. which were all off limits to the general public. He never forgot my name after the first time I met him and we still keep in touch. When you meet someone like this, it makes all the difference in the world! | ||
| Robert McNair (Rrm)
Member Username: Rrm Post Number: 441 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have found the higher end dealers are substantially more respectful than the mainstream ones. When I started looking for a car last year I carried a bank statement with me figuring the dealers would give me a hassle about test driving hi-end cars. I never had to pull it out once. I went to a Porsche dealer to test drive a 911 I pulled up in my old rusty pickup wearing jeans and a t-shirt salesman saw me, what I was driving and didn't give it a second thought. He told me all about the car and encouraged a test drive without even trying to qualify me. That was over a year ago and I still remember his name and still refer him to people. Now in shopping for my S2000 dealing with Honda dealers was just simply a nightmare!! | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1850 Registered: 1-2002 |
I will never forget my encounter with this sort of "dealer attitude". It was 1983, and I had just graduated college. I was looking for my "career" (which took a while to find), so I took a "job" for a short time, selling Porsches at what was then the #1 Porsche dealer in the world: Forest Lane Porsche in Dallas. Well, my very first day on the job, I was being introduced to all the other sales schmoes, and in walks this schlumpy guy dressed in jeans & a t-shirt & sneakers. Realize, this was WAY before the dot-bomb era that made this sort of attire somewhat acceptable... Well, all the other sales schmoes turned up their noses at this guy based on his appearance. He was wandering around, but kept coming back to the 928 on the floor. Being young & hungry, I decided that I would approach him, just for practice if nothing else. Well, turns out he wanted to buy the 928 (a VERY expensive car) on the floor right that minute, and he wanted to pay with his American Express card. I was highly skeptical, until I had the finance manager call Amex, and this is the answer that came back: "Mr. X is allowed to purchase up to $10,000,000 on this particular card, so the deal is approved." I almost crapped my pants. Here, on my first day, I had sold the most expensive car we had to a guy who looked like a borderline bum, who paid with a credit card with a TEN MILLION DOLLAR LIMIT. But here's the best part: he then called his wife to come meet him to see his new car, and she drove up in a Rolls Royce. She apparently had dropped him off in it earlier, but out of our view. The looks on the faces of all the a$$clowns who had turned their noses at this unlikely looking customer, especially after the Amex story began circulating & they saw his wife's Rolls, was priceless. And the lesson I learned that day--don't judge a book by its cover--was invaluable, and ended up saving my life several times in the years after that in a different "job" I had. | ||
| Keith Maxwell (Keith_maxwell)
Junior Member Username: Keith_maxwell Post Number: 93 Registered: 5-2003 |
Ferrari of Washington has been incredibly helpful. Ralph Cestaro was even gracious to my parents when they came with me to look at a Mondial. Ralph took them to the Vintage Garage and introduced my Dad to "the" Daytona that Newman drove at Le Mans and the 333 SP that Morretti won Daytona in. Those folks are great! | ||
| David McGee (Damcgee)
Junior Member Username: Damcgee Post Number: 68 Registered: 2-2003 |
I have DEFINITELY found that the respect and attention I recieve at a dealership is proportional to how much the cars cost. I'm a 21 year old college student, and I'm more than willing to divulge that when I introduce myself to the salesman. Some salesman just smile and show me the car anyway, others tell me come back when I have job. Oh yea, the job, which today, I finally got! I still have a year left of college and received an offer today for a spot in a Operations Management Leadership Development program. Good pay during the 3 years they're moving me around and training me, GREAT pay when it's over, and it's a company I respect. !!! | ||
| Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
Junior Member Username: 86mondial32 Post Number: 77 Registered: 5-2003 |
I have only good things to say about Shelton in Lauderdale. While I was waiting for delivery of my Mondy from Motorcars International I went to Shelton to look around. Even though I arrived in an Eclipse Spyder they treated me like An owner. I was shown respect and made to feel very much a part of the Ferrari family. | ||
| Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Member Username: Markcollins Post Number: 254 Registered: 7-2002 |
Jason agreed, Lee and Nathan are brilliant, but, Kemel, I wish you luck wit the sales side, I bought my 355 from them and I was treated as though I was buying a �2k used car, don't expect a special experience!!!! | ||
| Jason Fraser (Jfraser)
Member Username: Jfraser Post Number: 403 Registered: 3-2001 |
Kemal I don't think that you'll have a problem with Meridien....I always got very good treatment from there.....I mainly dealt with the Service people, Lee Harris & Nathan Bell (first class and incredibly polite)....FYI, it is one of the most beautiful dealerships I have ever seen....The building is very impressive | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member Username: Scott Post Number: 164 Registered: 6-2001 |
Thongs = sandals If I had shown up in an actual thong (as in the undergarment), much vomitus would have ensued. | ||
| Kuzi (Kzma)
Junior Member Username: Kzma Post Number: 208 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thats what training is all about! | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 989 Registered: 11-2002 |
I don't get a rise out of giving people the Jedi Mind Trick. I show up in sweats and a t-shirt because if for some reason I'm leaning on the car while inspecting something, sweats don't have rivets like jeans that can damage the paint. I'm actually trying to do them a favor. My sweats don't have back pockets where pens could be left and poke a hole in the seat etc. There are good dealers out there. It's too bad that sometimes an assenine salesman can ruin a good dealership's reputation. Cheers | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 988 Registered: 11-2002 |
TC, I think that by thongs he means for the feet. As in sandals, and not shoes...  Cheers | ||
| kemal batu (Rogermelly)
New member Username: Rogermelly Post Number: 10 Registered: 6-2003 |
hahahahaaaaa | ||
| michaelthuber (Mikehuber)
New member Username: Mikehuber Post Number: 29 Registered: 3-2003 |
Scott, You are very correct. In 1986 I had an older Porsche that I drove to a Chev dealer to look at the new Corvette. They refused to let me drive one. I then drove up to the Porsche dealer and they let me take out a new 928S. I decided to buy a 944 which I promptly drove back to the Chevy dealer and told the manager how he had just lost a possible sale of a Corvette because of his non-respectful salesman. And this was in 1986. Guess I'm not surprised to hear it is still going on. | ||
| TC (Houston) (Tec)
Junior Member Username: Tec Post Number: 92 Registered: 2-2002 |
That is respect. But, I don't care how much money you have . . . if I were selling my car and you showed up in a thong I'd at least ask you to put a towel down on the seat before sitting in it. | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 987 Registered: 11-2002 |
Scott, that's priceless. Yeah, Corvette folks are awesome, but the dealers are crap. Cheers | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member Username: Scott Post Number: 163 Registered: 6-2001 |
My local dealer (Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo) and their sales staff (but especially Gregg Theis) has treated me with incredible respect. The first time I showed up I had on shorts, a T shirt and thongs (and I arrived in a 6 year old minivan). That first day I was allowed to test drive a 355. I was looking for a convertible--when I showed up to various dealers my 360 there were no problems. BUT, I went to a Chevy dealer to check out the Corvette convertible (in the minivan again) and they wouldn't let me test drive it. Dealers must blow some big sales by making quick visual assessments of customers. | ||
| kemal batu (Rogermelly)
New member Username: Rogermelly Post Number: 8 Registered: 6-2003 |
Absolutely - Customer service is foremost especially when we spend the sort of money we do on cars... It wasnt to rub it in per se... More like to go and let the sales manager of the dealership know that he lost a sale due to the attitude of his people... If I go in wearing torn jeans and sleeveless t-shirt, and inquire about 'that car there' only to be told it was out out of my price range and we cant help you... that in my eyes is bloody terrible service and definitely worth letting the boss know... I never get it at AFN, the Porsche people in Guildford, UK or Chapelgate in Reading, and I will let you know about Meridien Modena next week, after I go in there all scruffy on saturday minus Omega watch etc etc to ask about their 348 Spider! :-) | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 984 Registered: 11-2002 |
An unfortunate reality unless you are a repeat customer or something. I've had similar experiences to yours Kemal, but I didn't go and buy the car and rub it in. A quote I like to use to illustrate the point. I went to a local dealer to look at some cars. He referred me to another dealer and phoned ahead to led them know I was coming. Ended the conversation... "Don't be fooled by what he's wearing (VW T-Shirt that said Drivers Wanted and sweatpants), the gentleman just sold his Murcielago." Punks. I went to three Porsche dealerships before purchasing my cars there. I bought from the first dealership to treat me with some respect. Took four trips to the dealership and a month before I decided, and the salesman was patient throughout. Politely followed up and gave me information of incoming models and other color combinations that made themselves available during my decision period. Definitely earned my business, even if a rival dealership could've knocked a bit more off the price. These things matter to me. Cheers | ||
| kemal batu (Rogermelly)
New member Username: Rogermelly Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2003 |
I dont know what they are like in the US - but 2 years ago when I went to BMW Park Lane in London whilst up there for the weekend with my wife - the cheeky b******s had the gall to look me up and down and tell me they were unable to help me!!! I went then to my local dealer the next week and bought a B3 3.3 Alpina no. 91 of 100 for the UK market... and drove it back up there just to let their sales manager know what his people were like... No doubt they got a right bollocking... | ||
| Tony Roberts (Pantera)
Junior Member Username: Pantera Post Number: 83 Registered: 6-2003 |
When I go to my local dealer in my 355 they roll out the red carpet.I have been at the same dealer with a vehicle I use for work they won't give me the time of day. I would to hear your experiences with this situation! |